”The purpose of life is to be useful, honorable, compassionate, and to have it make some
difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Dr. Shweta Iyengar tells us how she built her career by helping people instill in them more
confidence and making them feel good about themselves.
Interviewer: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea?
Dr. Iyengar: My name is Dr. Shweta Iyengar. Medically, I am a doctor but by heart I always wanted to pursue entrepreneurship and do something in the field of beauty. The reason for choosing the field of beauty is that I felt there should be more confidence in the world and people should be more excited every day. I realized in my growing up years that it is important for people to feel good, and like their own personality. If they are confident when they look in the mirror, they want to do more in life. The way they look impacts not only themselves but also everyone around them. Then I decided to not go into beauty medicine and that’s what my company does. It’s called Skinsense; it is an advanced medical beauty clinic. Here we use lasers and other advance medical devices that transform the cells of the skin, hair and the body so that you get amazing skin, hair and body shape at any age.
These procedures are medically approved and have undergone a lot of research globally. They are proven safe are approved by the US, FDA.
Interviewer: Who has been your greatest motivation all this while?
Dr. Iyengar: I would not want to name just one person. I am a person who keeps getting inspired by people around me and am extremely inspired by those who have a dream and want to make a difference. Even if they don’t know how to cause that change they put things together, progress ahead and are constantly growing. So when I look at somebody, irrespective of their age, doing something different or creating something that makes me feel very good. In my growing up years I have always been attracted to entrepreneurs who love to create.
Interviewer: What do you think are the three main things which are most important for a successful business?
Dr. Iyengar: First is that a person should know the answer to’ Why?’ Why are you in this field of business? Why do you want to do this and what is the change you want to bring in the world. The people who begin with a purpose are the ones who’ll keep on moving forward, despite of having ups and downs in the business.
Second is there has to be constant learning. However good you may be, unless you are improving on yourself and listening to what more can you give, that attitude has to be there.
The third is integrity and honesty. One has to look up at the larger picture. If people start evaluating, just the short term gains and losses and not looks at a bigger picture, it wouldn’t be helpful. It would be good for each and every person, for the customer, owner, and the staff and overall for the company. The more you think about everyone, the more the business would grow itself.
Interviewer: What are some of the challenges that you faced and what have you learned from
them?
Dr. Iyengar: Loads of challenges! When I started I had only my medical knowledge, no business knowledge. I did not have any businessmen from my family and friends who could help me with the day to day challenges. Also I had a very low working capital. I started with many challenges and the growing years were very difficult.
Every challenge gave a different thing to learn from. Every time there was a breakdown and
every time you face what you didn’t expect and didn’t succeed, you must evaluate what you can do in the future. Once you realize that and set it right, that’s the key.
In a growing business, there will be challenges at each and every step. When you have a challenge, you must face it instead of blaming other people and circumstances.
Interviewer: What would you like to advice young students willing to become an entrepreneur?
Dr. Iyengar: I think, it’s a brilliant thing. I took few years of my life to be an entrepreneur. I used to be a very studious person; I studied at a medical college. I think, entrepreneurship is one of the best things that can happen to anybody. It is fulfilling, at the same time, so demanding. It asks you to look at so much about yourself and learn so much about the world. If anybody has the smallest desire to become an entrepreneur, they should go ahead and nurture it. It is absolutely a mazzedar thing. It comes with its own ups and downs but the fulfillment that one gets from making a difference, creating something. You cannot get that kind of fulfillment from anything else in the world. It’s not about the money, if you are doing a good work, money comes. Money is a by-product. It might take a while to earn it but I really believe that money comes all by itself and it is a byproduct of good work. But the fun you get in doing good work, beating challenges, become a person who is not bowed down by challenges is absolutely different. Once you become an entrepreneur, even people who don’t know about you, start looking at you differently because of your attitude towards life.
Interviewer: What are some of your habits that have helped you becomes a successful entrepreneur?
Dr. Iyengar: One of my main habits is introspection. Whenever I’m going through a very good or bad phase, I look within myself and I judge that what belief of mine or thoughts have made them happen.
Another habit is that I am a constant learner. However I might know, I know it’s just the tip of the iceberg and if I’ll learn more, I’ll be able to do more. Be it at a small scale or large scale, in meetings or seminars or from YouTube videos and books. I have this huge learning attitude. Even if I’m sitting with a little kid, I believe I might end up learning something from them.
Interviewer: What would you prefer to do if you get an opportunity to pursue something different in the future?
Dr. Iyengar: My mission is to help people feel amazing about them, to build their self esteem. Not necessarily only women, but women need more of this kind of a boost. But for both men and women, I would like to be there for them so that they are confident enough to pursue their dreams. Whatever comes my way, in the future, I would like to nurture young entrepreneurs, who are going through the first 3-4 years of their business and finding it very difficult to face the challenges. Anywhere I feel a person is passionate about something but is stuck due to some reasons, I would like to add value and help them.